Component 1: Technical Work (15 marks)

Candidates can prepare either Option 1: Scales and arpeggios, or Option 2: Study.

Option 1: Scales and arpeggios

The examiner will ask for a selection of the scales, arpeggios and broken chords below. All are to be performed ascending and descending, from memory. Tempo markings reflect the capabilities expected at this level.

​

Requirements

Scales                                                                               Range                                                         

C, G, E, B, F, B♭, E♭, A♭ major;                                              4 octaves                                                         
C, G, E, B, F, B♭, E♭, G# minor(harmonic minor and melodic)

Contrary motion scale

C, G, E, B, F, B♭, E♭, A♭ major;                                              2 octaves                                                                                                      

C, G, E, B, F, B♭, E♭, G# minor (harmonic minor and melodic)

Scale in thirds

C, A and E♭ major;                                                                 1 octave

D harmonic minor                                                                     

Chromatic scale in minor thirds

Beginning on D/F                                                                     2 octaves                                                                                                   

Chromatic scale in major sixths

Beginning on F/D                                                                     2 octaves

 

Arpeggios

C, G, E, B, F, B♭, E♭, A♭ major;                                              4 octaves                                                           

C, G, E, B, F, B♭, E♭, G# minor 

Dominant 7th arpeggio

In the keys of C, F#, B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭ major                           3 octave

Diminished 7th arpeggio

Beginning on F#, G, A♭, A, B♭, B                                            3 octaves 

 

Option 2: Study 

Louise Farrenc                   Study in C minor Op. 26 No. 25                         Piano Handbook 2021–2024: Grade 8 (LCM)

Aleksandr Scriabin             Study in C Sharp Minor Op. 2 No. 1                    Piano Handbook 2021–2024: Grade 8 (LCM)

         

​

​

Component 2: Performance (60 marks)

Performance of three pieces, one from each list, A, B and C. At least one piece performed in the exam must be taken from LCM Piano Handbook 2021-2024.

​

List A

Composer                                                                                  

William Alwyn 

Ludwig V. Beethoven 

Domenico Scarlatti 

Jean Sibelius 

​

C. P. E. Bach

​

J. S. Bach

Trygve Madsen

Wolfgang A. Mozart

Clara Schumann (Wieck)

​

List B

Composer                                                                          

Cécile Chaminade

Ned Rorem
Sergey Rachmaninov

York Bowen

Johannes Brahms

 

Betty Jackson King

Anatoly Lyadov

Nikolay Medtner

Maurice Ravel

Béla Bartók

Béla Bartók
Frédéric Chopin

Lennox Berkeley

Enrique Granados

Sergie Rachmaninov

Maurice Ravel

Florent Schmitt

​

List C

Composer                                                                        

Elena Kats-Chernin

Cheryl Frances-Hoad

Rodion Shchedrin

Joaquin Turina

Eleanor Alberga

Aaron Copland

Constant Lambert

Erwin Schulhoff

Zimmer arr. Radnich

Claude Debussy

Arnold arr. York

Chris Barnett

Ernest J. Moeran

Christopher Norton

Francis Poulenc

​

​

                            

Component 3: Discussion (7 marks)

Grade 8

This component of the exam consists of a short discussion with the examiner. The piano may be used to demonstrate where necessary. In addition to requirements to previous grades, candidates should be able to

• demonstrate knowledge of other music by the same composers

• identify any interval by number and type

• discuss with the examiner a range of issues arising from the music performed, demonstrating evidence of a rounded musical awareness, in terms of both the repertoire itself and their response to it as a performer

• discuss with the examiner those styles and performers which have been influential in the development of their own playing

• demonstrate an understanding of the history and development of the piano

• describe how they would approach practising a passage of short, fast notes in order to achieve a

  controlled, even performance

• explain how to produce singing tone on the piano with reference to one of their pieces

 

 

Component 4: Sight Reading (10 marks)

Candidates will perform a short, previously unseen piece of music. Up to one minute’s preparation time will be allowed to study the test before playing, during which the candidate may try parts of the test if they wish. Sight reading parameters for each grade are listed. 

​

​

Component 5: Aural Tests (8 marks)

Grade 8
Test 1
A harmonised passage, approximately 12 to 16 bars in length, in either simple or compound time, will be played. Candidates will be asked a selection of the following:

• To identify the time signature

• To identify whether the passage is in a major or minor key

• To suggest an appropriate tempo marking

• To describe and identify any particularly noticeable aspects of the dynamics, phrasing, articulation,

  modulation, ornamentation, texture, etc (examiners may play certain extracts from the passage

  again)

• To suggest a musical style (Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, twentieth century or

  modern, jazz/popular)

• To identify any interval in the melodic line between two successive notes, up to and including a

  major 10th (the two pitches will be played again, as occurring in the melody);

• To clap back, or identify and describe the note values (rhythmic values) of, a short phrase, 1 to 2

  bars in duration, taken from the passage and played again in an unharmonised version

• To identify a cadence, taken from the passage, played again by the examiner

(4 marks)

​

Test 2

Candidates will be given a copy of the score from Test 1, without phrasing, tempo, articulation, or dynamic markings. The passage will be played once again in full; further shorter sections, up to 4 bars in length, may also be played again, sometimes with changes in phrasing, tempo, articulation and/or dynamics. Candidates will be asked a selection of the following:

• To name the key

• To identify modulations

• To identify ornaments

• To describe the overall form (in addition to those specified for Grade 7, these may include ABCA, ABCBA, AA’BA, ABA’B, and similar structures, as well as more organic forms, or forms based on imitative or fugal structures)

• To identify simple melodic, rhythmic or harmonic devices, such as sequence, inversion, repetition, pedal points, augmentation/diminution, motivic development, etc

• To identify changes in phrasing, tempo, articulation and/or dynamics, in short passages, up to 2 bars in length, played in two different styles by the examiner

(4 marks)